One of three cars involved in a fatal crash Wednesday, June 18, on South Bay Boulevard in Los Osos. dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

One of three cars involved in a fatal crash Wednesday, June 18, on South Bay Boulevard in Los Osos. dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com

A Paso Robles man charged with vehicular manslaughter admitted to injecting methamphetamine and heroin just prior to a head-on crash that killed a Los Osos teen, a court document shows.

Alexander Paul Gonzales, 22, is charged with causing the June 18 death of Jackson Garland, 18. Garland and Gonzales were driving in opposite directions on South Bay Boulevard around 5:07 p.m. that day when Gonzales allegedly crossed the center line and hit Garland.

Garland died at the scene.

After the accident, Gonzales was charged with driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. His attorney, Darryl Genis, issued a statement, suggesting the charges were filed prematurely. Genis said toxicology reports would show Gonzales was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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Genis had requested the $100,000 bail set for Gonzales be reduced so Gonzales could return to work as a custodian at Cal Poly housing and resume studies at Cuesta College, where he was working toward a welding certificate.

As a result, the probation department filed a report earlier this month, recommending against lowering the bail, saying Gonzales, who lived with his parents at the time of the crash, had admitted to using heroin and meth.

“The defendant admitted to feeling the effects while driving and decided to continue driving, ultimately causing a fatality,” the report states, noting that Gonzales had drifted into oncoming traffic.

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